Hosting a fashion event in an underground car park is very ‘derelicte’. I almost expect to witness a Zoolander-style ‘walk-off’!

It is the evening of Derby Day and Material Boy’s Winter 2007 range ‘A Vomit Affair’ is being previewed. This combination may result in a couple of genuine pavement-pizza deliveries. There’s no doubt Melbourne takes a fearless approach to fashion. Experimentation is paramount with fantasy false-eyelashes making an appearance – your choice of spotted pheasant or peacock. Do birds even have eyelashes?

You could be forgiven for thinking I’m discussing the runway looks but these are merely stylish spectators scurrying for a birds eye view. The male models look like they could use an on-site therapist as they meander down the make-shift catwalk. Fabrics resemble fairy-bread with fluorescent hundreds and thousands; trainers are decorated by test-pattern prints.

Recently named WA Designer of the Year, Mic Eaton’s designs are phantasmagorical and fresh. The soundtrack is suitably electro-fied courtesy of Tim Hoey from Cut Copy.

In keeping with the technicolour yawn theme, free beer is supplied in keg loads; the consumption of which makes it necessary to become acquainted with the inadequate facilities. The glamour of the fashion industry isn’t reflected in portaloo queues. A handsome stranger’s charms plunge into decline as he confesses his intention to leave the queue and urinate into his cup!

Entertainment is diverse both in quality and genre. DJs mix up a random assortment of the avant-garde (The Knife Silent Shout) and the just plain cringe worthy (Sister Sledge We Are Family).

Featured live acts include The Amazing Phillips Sisters and Children Collide. On the heavy side of the spectrum, rumbling bass and guttural incantations spew forth in direct contrast to the electronic sounds provided by the DJs. The constant shifts are disconcerting.

Midnight Juggernauts reign supreme; the crowd impatiently await their sonic contribution. Constant touring has fine-tuned The Middies’ live experience; their appeal gaining momentum off the back of highly successful second EP Secrets Of The Universe.

Cascading keys, mesmerising base and ethereal vocals capture the crowd which sways dreamily in appreciation of Shadows. New single 45 And Rising echoes Dave McCullen’s (I Just Like To Call You My) Bitch and hurtles us into the stratosphere. The Middies bring some much-needed panache to proceedings. 80s influences may be intrinsic to their sound but it’s definitely not regurgitation.